perfect-white-t-shirt
By On In Wardrobe221 Comments

To me, one of the most important basics in a wardrobe is the t-shirt. A simple white t-shirt to be more precise. Whether you like yours fitted or slouchy, thick or sheer, you can never go wrong with a white tee. I love the easiness and versatility of it. It can be worn casually on it’s own or used as a layering piece underneath a sweater or blazer. There’s only one drawback when it comes to this wardrobe staple. Because it’s so simple, it needs to be perfect.

Fabric: Cotton tees, like this way maker shirt, have my personal preference, but linen t-shirts are great as well. Especially when temperatures are rising, these shirts will keep you cool. Unfortunately linen wrinkles like crazy, so be prepared to iron. Lyocell/tencell is a fabric that requires zero ironing and feels and looks a lot like silk (for the lazy, yet chic ladies amongst us).

Fit: Oversized or fitted, that is the question. I vote slightly oversized. Why? Because that’s what looks best on me. I feel too body conscious for figure hugging tees. But if you like your shirts fitted, please do the world a favour and avoid a bra that’s too tight. You know what I mean..

Neckline: There are quite a few options when it comes to a t-shirt’s neckline. The V neck is generally considered the most flattering neckline for all body types. But I suggest you try different t-shirts to see what works for you (boatneck, rounded neckline etc.).

Sleeves: My former favourite t-shirt by Isabel Marant has a cap sleeve that looks really flattering. But unfortunately it has a hole in the front and I don’t know if I can fix it without being noticeable. In general though, a regular short sleeve is a better option for me. Which looks much nicer on a slightly oversized tee anyway.

Below you’ll find three of my favourites options in different price ranges. At the moment I’m practically living in the last tee from H&M. I love the rolled up sleeve, the neckline and the fit. So pretty much perfect. Now let’s see what it looks after a few washes…

Etoile Isabel Marant ($175) / Frame Denim ($80,00) / H&M ($9,95)

What are your requirements for the perfect t-shirt? And did you find it already or are you still looking?

Image: Pinterest

how-to-5-piece-french-wardrobe
By On In Shopping, Wardrobe2,610 Comments

Even though I have only been blogging for a short time, my post on the 5 piece French wardrobe has been read quite a few times already. So I figured I should write a post on how to start with this approach, not in the least because of a comment by Colette who was wondering how I started it all. As I wrote in my other post I was introduced to the 5 piece French wardrobe through two internet forums. I then started to search for more information and finally committed to making this thing work after I convinced myself I could totally do this (and I desperately needed a pair of Acne Pistol boots). Before I started, I bought so many different clothes but never thought for one second about how I could make a purchase work with my existing wardrobe. Shopping was mainly a relaxing activity, definitely not a necessary one. God, I don’t even want to think about all the clothes I donated or threw away over the years, hardly worn or even brand-new with the price tag still attached. But let’s get to the point.

Define your personal style
If you still have a hard time figuring out your personal style, create a inspiration board on Pinterest to help you. Here’s mine. As you can see I’m leaning towards a mix of French and Scandinavian style. Nothing too feminine and mostly very relaxed. Try to find similarities between the images you selected and write down what drew you to these pictures in the first place. I know it can be hard to put these things into words, but I promise it will pay off!

Detox your wardrobe
I’m not going to tell you, you need to throw out your entire wardrobe just to start all over again. Because that would be ridiculous. Unless you really need to rid of your money. But in that case, let me know so I can send you my bank account number. Why not try to make this method work next to the wardrobe you already own? I mean, Rome wasn’t build in a day, right? So take your time. Sort out your clothes and create three piles: keep, maybe and throw. The maybe-pile probably consists of clothing you haven’t worn in a while but you’re not ready to get rid of them just yet. My solution? Put them in a box and store them for a couple of months. Did you miss anything? If not, you can definitely say your goodbyes. Most clothes can still be donated unless they’re all worn out (why would you keep that in your closet though?) or you could organise an evening with friends and trade clothes. The same goes for the throw-pile as well. And definitely get rid of stuff that doesn’t fit you anymore. Don’t buy or keep stuff for the body you want to have, but for the body you have right now.

Review what’s left
Now most people buy clothes they like. But not a lot of people are actually concerned about the fit of these items. I suggest you try on everything you decided to keep and take a good look in the mirror. Do you feel comfortable and confident? And most importantly, do you look your absolute best? What if the sleeves were a tiny bit shorter or your jeans a little less tight, would that improve your overall look? I know it’s hard, but try to be brutally honest with yourself. Also consider your current lifestyle and which colors look good on you. But don’t throw anything out just yet.

Create a list of basics and key pieces
Make a list of basics you need to replace or purchase and take your time with it. Chances are you won’t find that perfect pair of blue jeans in a day and you definitely don’t want to settle for less. Don’t forget, basics are different for everyone (see my list here). Your list should include clothes, shoes and accessories that are absolutely crucial in order to making your wardrobe work. Make sure these items allow you to mix and match. You can also start your list of key pieces that you would like to buy this upcoming season. Personally, my list is never long but if you’re just starting out, include anything that tickles your fancy and work from there. I’m sure if you give it some time, you’ll be able to cross some of the items of your list.

Research online and start shopping!
So, you’ve narrowed your list down to 5 key pieces you want to buy this season and your list of basics is complete? Start to research online. Lately I’ve been looking into the brand Everlane for example, because I’m very drawn to their transparency and ethics when it comes to manufacturing clothing etc. We’re planning a trip to the States in September and I have my eyes set on a few shirts and silk blouses. So Jamie-Lee’s review for instance was very helpful. When you’re done researching, it’s time to spend your hard earned cash.Good luck! And let me know if there’s anything I should add.PS. Excuse the old school Polyvore style collage with summer items. For some reason I’m already excited about spring/summer.

From left to right: Acne Studios Ash top (€170), Ace & Tate Lucy glasses (€98,00), Weekday Tuesday Instant Blue jeans (€45,00), Converse Jack Purcell leather sneakers ($70), Everlane Petra bag ($425)

celine-trio-review
By On In Review720 Comments

celine_trio-bag-800

celine-trio-bag-review-800

Now I know a lot of you ladies are lusting after the Céline trio bag. But is it really worth the price? It’s one of my favourite bags so I thought it would be nice to write a review. It’s a gorgeous little bag that popped up all over the blogosphere in what seemed a matter of days. But I’m certainly not one to judge anyone that jumped on the trio bandwagon, because I instantly fell in love with it too. The trio is super versatile and I love the chic and understated design. It’s great for running errands or a night out. It does come with a few cons though, so if you’re considering this bag, please read on.

Current prices
I received an email from Department Feminin not too long ago with the current prices and at this very moment the small trio sells for €680 and the large trio for €780 (edit 30-12-16: current price for the small one is €730 and €780 for the large version). I got mine (the small version) for €600 three years ago so for such a small bag that’s pretty expensive to begin with, that’s quite the price increase. I expect it to become even more expensive over the next few years. So if you’re thinking about buying it, don’t wait too long!

Form and function
The trio, as it’s name suggests, consists out of three separate detachable compartments. When snapping the two outer pouches together, it can be used as a small clutch. I do have to be honest though, I never tried it myself as I’m not really a clutch person. I prefer my hands free, so I always carry it as a cross body bag. It comes with an adjustable strap which is stitched to the center compartment. The most common (and hard to find) colours are black and navy, but they sell different colours every season. They all come with gold hardware. At first I was after a black trio, but it wasn’t available at the time, so I settled for a navy one. Which probably sounds negative, but I’m still super happy with my decision. You can hardly tell if it’s black or blue, but it just looks a little bit softer (if that makes any sense). The lambskin is gorgeous and feels soft and luxurious. A major con however is it’s durability. The leather is not at all scratch-resistent and when I took it out in the rain, the raindrops actually stained the bag for a little while. So that really freaked me out. But fortunately they were gone after a few hours, pfieww! Since the leather is really soft, it doesn’t keep it’s shape very well, but because of that, it fits quite a lot. Usually I’ll take my CDG wallet, passport, lip balm and iPhone and there’s still room left. I love how easy it is to organise your stuff. I don’t have to search for my keys for 10 minutes. I’m sure that sounds familiar. Before I forget, I should probably mention that the zipper pulls look a little different now. The earlier pulls came with stitching all around (like mine), but nowadays they’re only stitched at the side that’s connected to the actual zipper. I have no idea why Céline changed it, but I like it either way.

Quality
I bought this bag almost three years ago and it’s holding up really well. I took these pictures this morning, so you can see for yourself. It does have one visible scratch on the back though, because I couldn’t help being a lazy idiot. I didn’t put it back in it’s dust bag before storing it. So it got scratched by another bag. What can I say, lesson learned. Other than that I can hardly spot any damage, except for some minor scuffing on one of the corners.

Pros:
  • it’s the cheapest Céline bag on the market
  • the versatility (two bags in one)
  • it looks and feels luxurious
  • the pouches make it very easy to organise your stuff
Cons:
  • the durability of the leather
  • the strap could be sturdier (I’ve read some stories about straps breaking, so I’m careful not to overstuff it)
  • the price

Well, I hope my review was helpful for those of you considering the Céline trio. Although it does come with a few cons, I love it and would definitely buy it again. You just need to be a bit more careful with it, and even though I’m usually a throw-my-bags-around kinda person that prefers the look of a used bag, I really don’t mind. Anything with a gorgeous design that’s still as functional as the trio is a worthwhile investment to me.